A little postseason history lesson

After qualifying for the playoffs, the Dodgers are still aiming to capture consecutive National League West titles for the first since 1977 and 1978. Tommy Lasorda and Joe Torre are the only two managers to lead Los Angeles to the playoffs in their first two seasons piloting the Dodgers. Lasorda and Gabby Street (1930-31 Cardinals) are the only N.L. managers to win pennants in their first two seasons as manager.

This is also the first time the Dodgers have reached the playoffs four times in a six-year span since the Brooklyn Dodgers reached the World Series four times in a five-year span from 1952-56. The “playoff” losses in 1946, 1951, 1962 and 1980 are considered part of the regular season as tiebreakers, thus don’t count as a postseason appearance.

The only Brooklyn manager to come close to reaching the playoffs in his first two full seasons was Burt Shotton, who replaced Leo Durocher during the 1948 season and finished in third place. In 1949, Shotton’s Dodgers won the 1949 National League pennant and nearly repeated in 1950, missing a chance to force a playoff with the Phillies by losing at home against Philadelphia on the final day of the regular season.

Brooklyn’s Ned Hanlon won consecutive N.L. pennants in his first two seasons as Dodger manager in 1899 and 1900, but the World Series didn’t begin until 1903.

I personally enjoy most of the tongue in cheek stuff that Simers writes. He certainly holds no reverence for the owner, management and even certain players on the team. My feelings for the same are way more extreme that Simer’s.

Nonetheless, let’s finally root the Dodgers to the pennant.
If I had my druthers, I wish they had finished as strong as they started this season, but then ultimately it is about October, so let’s hope they can pull it together for the playoffs.

bear, I agree. Simers used to bug me, but he’s the one columnist now that doesn’t kiss up. I also agree that it’s time to root these guys on, otherwise I’ll end up in a straight jacket trying to figure out Joe Torre’s lineups.
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BTW, this crap about 4 straight playoff appearances cannot be compared to the old single and double division days when it was much harder to make the playoffs as either the only NL rep or one of 2 division winners. Apples and oranges baby.
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Come on Dodgers!! I’m going to the first home game of the NLDS and I want it to be Game 1!!!

Lineup from Dodgers Twitter:
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Furcal SS
Hudson 2B
Ethier RF
Ramirez LF
Kemp CF
Loney 1B
Martin C
Castro 3B
Billingsley P
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We almost have a real lineup here. Blake and Belliard must have some real injuries. Hopefully this can get the job done. Bills is going up against a rookie out of the bullpen. Joe needs to watch Bills carefully as he enters the sixth inning. Don’t allow him to implode. We need this one not only for the division, but for home field advantage.

Oops. Sorry for the double post. Currently experiencing submission issues. Time warping also. My first post came in 20 minutes into the future, while my double post came in right on time. Time stamp: 4:17 pm

The Dodgers are looking for their 11th division title (excluding the strike-shortened season of 1981) and third this decade, needing a win or Rockies loss to clinch the NL West. If they win the division, Joe Torre will earn his 13th division title as manager (1 with the Braves, 10 with the Yankees, and this would be his second with the Dodgers), the second-most division crowns won by any manager since divisional play began in 1969. Only Bobby Cox (15 division titles) has more.
ESPN Stats and Information

Billingsley, who allowed three runs in six innings, is 0-4 with a 5.45 ERA in his last six starts and has not won since Aug. 18.

Facing the Padres should give him a good chance to end that streak. He has gone 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in four starts against San Diego this season.

While the Dodgers are looking to get healthy before the playoffs, San Diego (72-85) tries to close out a mostly strong second half of the season. The Padres are 15-9 this month and 34-23 since July 28.

Good Early Evening ITD, Dodger Faithful and Our Beloved Boy’s in Blue……….
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Here is my Rah, Rah, Rah for Billz and the Boy’s tonight!
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Champagne celebration aside…..We can use a win tonight for several good reasons…….First to get Billz back to the happy side of the game….secondly as Bowa say’s… Home field advantage is big. Third and foremost we need a hot team, some positive energy and a strong finish to this season.
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I’ve been running a dry test ( these last two games) for the celebration…..Using plain ole water…. and Alka Seltzer for the bubbles….Enough of the Plop, Plop, Fizz Fizz…….
I want……. POP, POP, FIZZ, FIZZ TONIGHT
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Pop the catchers mitt….Pop the bat’s……Pop the cork!!!!
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LET’S GO DODGERS, LET’S GO!!!!!
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BRING THE RING TO L.A. IN 2009!!!!!
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Enjoy the game everyone………

It would be fitting if Billz can be the one to pitch us to the pennant. I know he’s been way off since the All-Star game, and I’ve been on him as much as anybody here, but he still has the most wins on our pitching staff. We likely wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the good Billz. I think we need him at his best to come out of the playoffs a winner, and he still is a big part of our future.

Hey all my blogmates! Got a BIG favor to ask of you . . . I am going to be at my class tonight and won’t be out until around 9:30, so I won’t be listening to or watching the game :( The favor is to PLEASE add an cheer to yours when the get the job done tonight! GO DODGERS GO!!!

Hi Everybody,
It’s the old geezer from B’Klyn here.
Let them try……AGAIN.
I’m following the lead of my buddy Truebluwill and I bought a bottle of ANDRE’ California champagne.
I’ll pop the cork as soon as the Dodgers give us a reason to celebrate. (or for that matter the Milwaukee Brewers)
This is another big night for Bills, I wish him luck.
I hope the Dodgers don’t make a hero of Cesar Ramos.
LET THE GAME BEGIN!!!

Hi ITD,
I see most are either at Petco or watching in some manner.
Got the AnDRE bubbly, got the favorite team shirts and hats, so we can get the good moJOE going. JUST WIN BABY!
I hope that was Bilz “bad” inning and we can get this Division wrapped up tonight. PHILS won, Cards loss and ROX look to win, but Braves got chopped! Let Go Dodgers!

I’d sure rather taste the Cold Duck than watch it!!! C’mon guys, let’s get it done. All we have faced is mediocre pitching at best for about the last week. If you can’t get it done against these guys, I’m not very optimistic about our chances against what we will see in the playoffs. Geez!!!

jhall – How much of that decision is up to the players and not the organization? I would think if it were strictly up to the players, they would want to win. However, not sure about how management might think differently. It is about media and money in some respects.

Sometimes I wonder if he forgets what team he’s rooting for. Cheering good plays is fine, but something tells me his call for a Dodgers clincher will be halfhearted compared to that bottom of the 9th at PNC on Sunday.

Hi’Ya North, Brandon, and 32!!! Welcome to the impending party!!! Now that you mention it Brandon, I do. I guess you can chalk it off to getting it done all season long to get to this point. Certainly cause for some celebration. Not nearly as sweet, however!!!

I mean, no matter if they clinch or not…. It’s very concerning to be losing the way they are against the piss poor teams of the league…. I mean, come on guys… The Nats, the Pirates, and now possibly the Pads…. wow

It is however looking more and more like Billz will not make the playoff roster at all… The guy just cracks under pressure…. The problem is that he KNOWS that he’s pitching for is playoff roster spot… and he puts even more pressure on himself….. BUT CAN WE GET THE MAN SOME F!@#$ING RUNS AGAINST THIS BS TEAM!!!!!!

They’re obviously pressing… Everyone is…. they need to relax!! Have fun!! When’s the last time these guys looked like they were having fun!! They’re the first place team, with the best record in the NL…. Act like it and enjoy the damn game!! They need to RELAX!!! Quit being so GD uptight!!!

That’s what I’m saying jhall…. They need to laugh a little…. For God sakes… this team last year was sooooo relaxed…. At times they’ve looked like it this year…. But, I’m talking about the Manny antics, and the being goofy…. They helped this team relax and play loose…. They’re just presing…. They need to go to the beach tomorrow or SOMETHING!

The thing that really gets me is that for weeks we been talking about the Dodgers’ easy schedule in Sept. Playing weak teams like the Nats, Pirates & Padres. If this score holds, and it looks like it will, the Dodgers will be 3 and 5 against those teams. That makes feel really, really sick.

Nellyjune ~ every time Andre comes to bat, Charlie has to say how dreadful he has been on this road trip. If it were Juanpy, he be saying ow fabulous he is. I can’t stand him and wish he’d shut up and let Rick talk once in a while.

I always start out the day thinking the Dodgers are going to win today. So, that will happen for sure, and just like oldbrooklynfan says, the sun will rise tomorrow with another chance to finish this division off once and for all.

OBF and TBW, that’s what I was thinking before I had to leave the game and go to the store. Just get this horrible play out of their systems and come back strong in the post season. The way Bills gets sloppy after the 5th inning does not bode well for him to be a starting pitcher in the play offs.
We will get them tomorrow.

Hi Nelly
I have not been that active on this board lately. Until I get a new tenant in my rental house, it is hard for me to get too involved in recreational activities. I have been watching in horror the last week as the Dodgers have imploded. It is bad enough to lose, but the way they have beat themselves is just not acceptable.

I was reminded that the Dodgers have not done anything the easy way all season. So, why would that change now? Not that they are, but it sometimes feels like they do these things on purpose to either test our Dodger Blue loyalty or just pisss us off. Both tactics are working brilliantly if that is the case – LOL!!!!

dodgereric – Everytime it is mentioned about Andre and his temper when he doesn’t do well. It’s written as a negative thing, which I always took the opposite way that he really cares about winning for his team and doesn’t want to let them down. However, it seems Joe has them all in this attitude that “it will be okay.” Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I really don’t know, but it sure seems to be working against them right now. However, when we win tonight, it won’t matter, will it? Like you said, we are Dodger fans…………enough said :)

Lot’s of Dodger Blue in the streets of San Diego last night. Did hear a fan yell as Rockies victory was posted on the scoreboard, “Not here, not tonight…” And I thought, “Right On!” The Dodgers players either make a statement…or go away. I’ll not make excuses for them or beg for a little TV champagne party. This isn’t about Joe or Ned or Frank or the Rockies or the Padres or whatever. These guys are either championship caliber players or they’re not. There are smoke and mirrors in sports.

Good Morning ITD, Dodger Faithful and Our Beloved Boy’s in Blue……………
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The wait continues….so I have some motivational music for the boy’s as we attempt to them get fired up……This first one is rather long 15 minutes……Our offense should Rally half as long…..we have played like this before…here goes
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LET THERE BE ROCK!!!!!!!…….
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QIFyBAtpGE
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Just go out and………….PLAY !!! PLAY!!!! PLAY!!!!!
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LETS HAVE FUN TONIGHT GENTLEMEN!!!!!!

It would be a smart and very good thing to get serious and win this thing tonight. I was really hoping to clinch in Pittsburgh ’cause San Diego could put a mediocre little league team out there in Padres unis and they’d play us tough, too. I would really hate to let the Rockies back into this thing.

“The Dodgers are negotiating a long-term contract extension for general manager Ned Colletti, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing an unnamed ‘high-ranking club official.’ ”

You’ve got to be kidding! Frank must have a lot more money that’s burning a hole in his pocket for Colletti to waste. Ned’s stupid signings have become legendary. Not only have they wasted huge amounts of money, but they have blocked the progress of, or traded off, minor league talent to the long-term detriment of the Dodgers.

And which GM made the better decision last year when Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu, and Adam Dunn were all available. Ned chose to go with Manny for a mere $23, 854,494 salary and a ridiculous player option for 2010. For that, LA has so far gotten 62 RBIs and 19 HRs. Washington chose Adam Dunn for $8,000,000. For that, they got 103 RBIs and 38 HRs to date. The Angels signed Bobby Abreu for $5,000,000 and got 102 RBIs and 15 HRs to date for less than 21% of Manny’s salary.

Yes, Frank, sign Ned quickly. There must be lots of other clubs anxious to scoop him up just like they were waiting in line to sign Andrew Jones and Manny Ramirez. After all, someone who is so skilled in getting the best value for your money is hard to find.

I think many of us on ITD would agree with your logic, redfox. The problem with it may very well lie with Frank himself. I suspect that it was Frank with his Boston memories who wanted Manny above all – why? For promotional purposes more than on-field performance. How does Dunnwood or Abreuwood sound by comparison? With Frank performance doesn’t matter – he probably can’t even recognize it; else why would he consider keeping Ned any longer than absolutely necessary. The troubling aspect with the Dodgers winning in the playoffs is that the fans deserve it, but the ownership DOES NOT.

A bit unfair to criticize Ned on Manny. Last winter this whole town had its collective panties in a knot because Manny hadn’t been delivered yet. Who REALLY wanted Dunn or Abreu over Manny in real time…not in hindsight? No one knew (or maybe they did?!?!?!?!) that Man Ram was juicing, would get suspended, and return as a slug. Quite frankly, this club has not been the same since Manny returned, either because he shunned them during the suspension, or the team felt privately betrayed, or they miss the potent stick they were counting on…heck, maybe it’s all the above. But it certainly appears we have Manny for 2010 and it also certainly appears he is every bit a 37-year-old baseball player.

Carcyn,
sorry I did not see your message. I was in 110 row 16 wearing my Dodger poncho.

Ugh, disgusted that they did not do it las night. We are in 112 row 9 tonight but we are leaving right after the game as we both start work early on Thursday.
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Let’s hope it happens tonight! We went for a walk a few hours after the game and as we turn the corner there was Ethier, baby and Maggie. Ethier was playing with the baby as they walked. Maggie’s face when she saw us Dodger fans was like “oh no” but we did not bother them. We are not that kind of fans. We respected the quality time they were having. Baby looked so cute.
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well we got to check out soon. Hotel was nice enough to give us a late checkout of 2.p.m. I recomend breakfast at the Yolk….Yolk Cafe i think is the name. Very good breakfast.
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

I am so nervous! And I hope it happens tonight!!! I’m going to go to church and light a votive candle for them!!! Did anyone see the story on Matt Kemp on the Dodger site today? I think that Doug Mienkewitz’s ( I think I spelled it wrong) comments regarding Matt being a better player than Andre Ethier were dispicable!!! Why would you do that? He is a bench player that hasn’t contributed a thing and he goes on and on like that! It takes an entire team effort to win. Matt and Andre are the heart and soul of that team! He did not have the right to make those comments!

I am so nervous! And I hope it happens tonight!!! I’m going to go to church and light a votive candle for them!!! Did anyone see the story on Matt Kemp on the Dodger site today? I think that Doug Mienkewitz’s ( I think I spelled it wrong) comments regarding Matt being a better player than Andre Ethier were dispicable!!! Why would you do that? He is a bench player that hasn’t contributed a thing and he goes on and on like that! It takes an entire team effort to win. Matt and Andre are the heart and soul of that team! He did not have the right to make those comments!

I am so nervous! And I hope it happens tonight!!! I’m going to go to church and light a votive candle for them!!! Did anyone see the story on Matt Kemp on the Dodger site today? I think that Doug Mienkewitz’s ( I think I spelled it wrong) comments regarding Matt being a better player than Andre Ethier were dispicable!!! Why would you do that? He is a bench player that hasn’t contributed a thing and he goes on and on like that! It takes an entire team effort to win. Matt and Andre are the heart and soul of that team! He did not have the right to make those comments!

I am so nervous! And I hope it happens tonight!!! I’m going to go to church and light a votive candle for them!!! Did anyone see the story on Matt Kemp on the Dodger site today? I think that Doug Mienkewitz’s ( I think I spelled it wrong) comments regarding Matt being a better player than Andre Ethier were dispicable!!! Why would you do that? He is a bench player that hasn’t contributed a thing and he goes on and on like that! It takes an entire team effort to win. Matt and Andre are the heart and soul of that team! He did not have the right to make those comments!

I certainly am no member of the clubhouse, where real personalities come out and play, but just season alone, I feel Ethier is the MVP, based on his sheer number of emotional, game-winning, season-changing hits. But I understand where Mientkiewicz is coming from. I believe he’s alluding to leadership. He deems Matt a leader. None of us can “feel” what a player feels or which player(s) the team “feels” actually stirs the pot. The Dodgers are lucky to have both Kemp and Ethier and hopefully, we’ll be treated to that tandem for the next decade.

kahliforni, good points also. Although I did object to resigning Manny last year and stated that it was very unlikely that Manny would perform at the same level again, I can understand Ned feeling some pressure to resign him. But with no other team interested in signing Manny, it was ridiculous to give him such a huge contract when other teams were able to sign Dunn and Abreu for a small fraction of what Ned gave Manny. And I doubt that any other GM in baseball would have given Manny a player only option for those huge dollars. That certainly warrants criticism. At the very least, it should have been a MUTUAL option.

Ned has made way too many mistakes in his time as Dodger GM. At a time when most of us were clamoring to give Kemp and Ethier a chance, Ned was constantly blocking their chances with stupid signings and even trying to trade them. Kemp and Ethier have vindicated our evaluation of their potential this year and have indicted Ned and Joe for their lack of recognizing and properly developing their talent. And look at how Ned treated Ethier this year in salary negotiations. He pays Manny much, much more than he should have and then fights giving Ethier a small, well-deserved fraction of it.

Yes, Ned has made a few good moves and deserves credit for them, but on the whole I view his time as GM in a negative light. Rather than credit him with the team’s success, I think that success is more in spite of him than because of him.

redfox, I only defended Ned, re Manny. Otherwise, I agree with you for the most part. His ENTIRE body of work is less than stellar. Not terrible, but not stellar. His one BIG mistake, in hindsight, of course, was trading Edwin Jackson (and Tiffany) to Tampa Bay for Baez and Carter. That’s why a guy like McDonald is so frustrating…any young pitcher, for that matter. McDonald has obviously had a mediocre year out of the pen. Is he trade bait? Will he dominate five years from now…here or somewhere else? So far, Ned has been OK trading kids (but I suspect Logan White had more to do with THAT expertise than Ned). But as you allude to, it’s Ned’s PVL acquisitions that blocked young, everyday talent that rankles the most, along with Joe’s “grandpa” preferences for the elderly.

Here’s a classic quote from 2006 and the Jackson trade:
“By acquiring Danys Baez and Lance Carter from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Edwin Jackson and Chuck Tiffany on Saturday, General Manager Ned Colletti again made it clear he wants a championship team in 2006. ‘I can’t sit around and wait,’ he said. ‘I want the Dodgers to win now.'”

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